Miniature rose plant named &#39;poulpah031&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new miniature rose plant that has abundant, deep pink flowers and attractive foliage. The variety successfully propagates from softwood cuttings and is suitable for year-round production in commercial glasshouses. This new and distinct variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

BOTANICAL DESIGNATION

Rosa hybrid

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Poulpah031’

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention constitutes a new and distinct variety ofminiature rose plant which originated from a controlled crossing betweenthe female seed parent, an unnamed seedling, and the male pollen parent,an unnamed seedling.

The two parents were crossed during the summer of 2001 and the resultingseeds were planted in a controlled environment in Fredensborg, Denmark.The new variety, named ‘Poulpah031’, originated as a single seedlingfrom the stated cross.

The new variety may be distinguished from its female seed parent by thefollowing combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. The seed parent has smaller flowers than ‘Poulpah031’.    -   2. Flowers of the seed parent are light pink, while flowers of        ‘Poulpah031’ are deep pink.

The new variety may be distinguished from its male pollen parent by thefollowing combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. The pollen parent has more flower petals than ‘Poulpah031’.    -   2. The pollen parent is less compact than ‘Poulpah031’.

The objective of the hybridization of this rose variety for commercialculture was to create a new and distinct variety with unique qualities,such as:

-   -   1. Uniform and abundant deep pink flowers;    -   2. Vigorous and compact growth;    -   3. Year-round flowering under glasshouse conditions;    -   4. Suitability for production from softwood cuttings in pots;    -   5. Durable flowers and foliage which make a variety suitable for        distribution in the floral industry.

This combination of qualities is not present in previously availablecommercial cultivars of this type, known to the inventor, anddistinguish ‘Poulpah031’ from all other varieties of which we are aware.

As part of the rose development program, Mogens N. Olesen germinated theseeds from the aforementioned hybridization and conducted evaluations onthe resulting seedlings in a controlled environment in Fredensborg,Denmark. ‘Poulpah031’ was selected by the inventor as a single plantfrom the progeny of the hybridization in 2001 .

Asexual reproduction of ‘Poulpah031’ by cuttings and traditional buddingwas first done by Mogens N. Olesen in the nursery in Fredensborg,Denmark in 2002. This initial and other subsequent propagationsconducted in controlled environments have demonstrated that thecharacteristics of ‘Poulpah031’ are true to type and are transmittedfrom one generation to the next.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying color illustration shows as true as is reasonablypossible to obtain in color photographs of this type, the typicalcharacteristics of the buds, flowers, leaves, and stems of ‘Poulpah031’.Specifically illustrated in the drawings:

FIG. 1A; Flower bud and partially opened flower;

FIG. 1B; Open flower;

FIG. 1C; Flower petals, detached;

FIG. 1D; Sepals, receptacle, and pedicel;

FIG. 2A; Juvenile leaves;

FIG. 2B; Mature leaves, upper and undersurfaces;

FIG. 2C; Bare stem;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following is a description of ‘Poulpah031’, as observed in itsgrowth in Fredensborg, Denmark. Observed plants are 4 months of age andwere cultivated in 12 cm pots. Color references are made using The RoyalHorticultural Society (London, England) Colour Chart, 2003, except wherecommon terms of color are used.

For a comparison, several physical characteristics of the rose variety‘Poulody’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,514, are compared to ‘Poulpah031’ inChart 1. CHART 1 ‘Poulpah031’ ′Poulody′ Petalage: 15 to 20 50 to 60Flower Diameter: 70 to 90 mm 45 mm Petal color, upper Red-Purple N 57ARed-Purple 57B-57C surface:

FLOWER AND FLOWER BUD

-   Blooming habit: Continuous.-   Flower bud:    -   -   Size.—Upon opening, 30 mm in length from base of receptacle            to end of bud. 11 mm diameter average.        -   Bud form.—Urceolate to ovate.        -   Bud color.—As sepals unfold, petals underneath are            Red-Purple Group N57A.        -   Sepals.—Upper Surface: Color: Yellow-Green Group 146D.            Texture: Strongly Pubescent. Lower Surface: Color:            Yellow-Green Group 146A to 146B. Texture: Smooth. Shape:            Apex: Cirrhose. Base: Flat at union with receptacle.            Margins: Margins have weak foliaceous appendages on three of            the five sepals. Stipitate glands are abundant to medium.            Size: Normally 32 mm long by 9 mm wide.-   Receptacle.—Surface Texture: Smooth. Shape: Urn-shaped. Size: 8 mm    (h)×10 mm (w). Color: Yellow-Green Group 144A. Anthocyanin: None    observed.-   Pedicel.—Surface: Somewhat rough with stipitate glands. Length: 40    to 45 mm average length. Diameter: Normally 3 mm. Color:    Yellow-Green Group 144A to 144B. Strength: Strong.    -   -   Borne.—Singularly.-   Flower bloom;    -   -   Fragrance.—Light to moderate floral scent.        -   Duration.—As a pot plant, flowers last from 21 to 28 days.            Petals fall cleanly away from plant after flowers have            matured.        -   Size.—Open flower diameter is normally 70 to 90 mm. Average            flower depth is 35 mm.        -   Form.—Generally flowers have a high-pointed center which is            tightly closed.        -   Shape of flower, side view.—Upon opening, the upper portion            is flat. The lower portion is flat. After opening, the upper            portion is convex. The lower portion is flat to flattened            concave.        -   Petalage.—There are normally 15 to 20 petals, 3 to 5 of            which are petaloids.-   Color:    -   -   Upon opening, petals.—Outermost petals: Upper Surface:            Red-Purple Group N57A with streaks of Red-Purple Group 62B.            Lower Surface: Red-Purple Group N57A with streaks of            Red-Purple Group 62B to Greyed-White Group 157A. Innermost            petals: Upper Surface: Red-Purple Group N57A with streaks of            Red-Purple Group 62B. Lower Surface: Red-Purple Group N57A            with streaks of Red-Purple Group 62B to Greyed-White Group            157A.        -   Upon opening, basal petal spots.—Upper Surface: Yellow Group            2D. Lower Surface: Yellow Group 2D.        -   After opening petals.—Outermost petals: Upper Surface:            Red-Purple Group N57A with streaks of Red-Purple Group 62B.            Lower Surface: Red-Purple Group N57A with streaks of            Red-Purple Group 62B to Greyed-White Group 157A. Innermost            petals: Upper Surface: Red-Purple Group N57A with streaks of            Red-Purple Group 62B. Lower Surface: Red-Purple Group N57A            with streaks of Red-Purple Group 62B to Greyed-White Group            157A.        -   After opening, basal petal spots.—Upper Surface: Yellow            Group 2D to Yellow-Orange Group 18C. Lower Surface: Yellow            Group 2D.-   General tonality: Opened flowers are Red-Purple Group N57A. After    flowers have fully matured, general tonality changes to Red-Purple    Group N57A with intonations of Red-Purple Group 68C.-   Petals:    -   -   Petal reflex.—Slightly reflexed.        -   Petal margin.—Entire.        -   Shape.—Broad elliptical. Base: Rounded. Apex: Acute and            obtuse.        -   Size.—Petal size varies. Outer petals: 52 mm (l)×45 mm (w).            Inner petals: 37 mm (l)×35 mm (w).        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Thickness.—Above average.        -   Arrangement.—-   Petaloids:    -   -   Quantity.—Normally 3 to 5.        -   Size.—12 mm long; 5 mm wide.        -   Shape.—Irregular.        -   Color.—Red-Purple Group N57A with Streaks of Yellow Group 2D            to Yellow-Orange Group 18C.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Pollen.—None observed.        -   Anthers.—Size: Normally 3.5 mm long. Color: Yellow Group            12C. Quantity: 100 to 110.        -   Filaments.—Color; Yellow-Orange Group 22C. Length: Normally            10 mm.        -   Pistils.—Length: 4 mm long. Quantity: 50 to 55.        -   Stigmas.—Slightly inferior relative to the length of the            filaments and the height of the anthers. Color:            Greyed-Yellow Group 160B.        -   Styles.—Color: Red Group 53C,        -   Seed formation.—Not observed.

PLANT

-   Plant growth: Compact, upright, and bushy.

When grown as a 12 cm pot plant on its own roots, the average height ofthe plant itself is 27 cm and the average width is 20 cm.

-   Stems:    -   -   Color.—Young wood: Yellow-Green Group 146B. Older wood:            Yellow-Green Group 146A.        -   Internodal distance.—On mature canes, average distance            between nodes is 20 mm.        -   Length of stems.—On average, canes are 15 to 18 cm from the            base of the stem to the flowering portion.        -   Surface texture.—Young wood: Smooth. Older wood: Somewhat            rough with small prickles.-   Prickles:    -   -   Incidence.—10 to 12 mm per 10 cm of stem.        -   Size.—Average length is 5 mm.        -   Color.—Juvenile prickles are Greyed-Yellow Group 162D with            Orange-Red Group 35C. Mature prickles are Greyed-Yellow            Group 162D.-   Plant foliage: Normal number of leaflets on normal leaves in middle    of the stem: 5 to 7 leaflets.    -   -   Compound leaf size.—85 to 105 mm (l)×60 to 80 mm (w).        -   Quantity.—5 leaves per 10 cm of stem.        -   Color.—        -   Juvenile foliage.—Upper Leaf Surface: Yellow-Green Group            146A. Lower Leaf Surface: Yellow-Green Group 147B. The            undersides occasionally have anthocyanic intonations the            color of Greyed-Purple Group 184B. Mature foliage: Upper            Leaf Surface: Yellow-Green Group 147A. Lower Leaf Surface:            Yellow-Green Group 191A, with occasional intonations of            Greyed-Purple Group 184B.-   Plant leaves and leaflets:    -   -   Stipules.—Size: 8 to 10 mm. Shape: Linear, slightly broad            based with outward extending species. Margins: Finely            serrated with many stipitate glands. Color: Yellow-Green            Group 146A to 147A.        -   Petiole.—Length: Normally 15 mm. Diameter: 2 mm on average.            Upper surface: Color: Green Group 138A. Anthocyanin:            Greyed-Purple Group 1 83A. Underneath: Numerous stipitate            glands observed. Lower surface: Color: Yellow-Green Group            146D. Observations: Small numerous prickles and stipitate            glands observed.        -   Rachis.—Size: 35 mm average. Upper Surface: Color: Green            Group 138A to Yellow-Green Group 144A with anthocyanic            pigments Greyed-Purple Group 183A. Observations: Numerous            stipitate glands. Lower Surface Color: Yellow-Green Group            146D. Observations: Numerous small prickles observed.        -   Leaflet.—Size: 50 to 55 mm in length by 27 to 30 mm wide.            Edge: Serrated. General Shape: Ovate. Apex Shape: Acute.            Base Shape: Obtuse to rounded. Texture: Smooth. Thickness:            Average. Arrangement: Odd pinnate. Venation: Reticulate.            Leaf Gloss: Very glossy finish.-   Disease resistance: Average resistance to powdery and downy mildew,    black spot, and Botrytis under normal growing conditions in    Fredensborg, Denmark.

1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant of the miniature class named‘Poulpah031’, substantially as illustrated and described herein, due toits abundant, deep pink flowers, vigorous growth, compact habit,suitability for production from softwood cuttings in pots, and durableflowers and foliage that make the variety suitable for distribution inthe floral industry.